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Steelers keys to success in 2007/08

: In My opinion heres what the steelers need to do in order to make another superbowl run: Play hard hitting, physical football. Last year I didn't see that as much, usually nobody is more physical than the steelers and I noticed especially when they played the Jaguars and Rats that they Looked like they let themselves get pushed around. I think that had to do with Cowher not being as fiery and into the game as much as he was in years past, and I think Tomlin should be able to bring a swagger back to the defense.
The other thing is to establish a more powerful running game. Obviously its hard to replace Jerome Bettis, But I think the use of both Davenport and Parker will make this possible, and it should open up the Play action pass to Ben, who I believe is at his best in the PA anyway.

I agree with you but I don't see it happening with the offense. The D, yes. We just don't have a power game on offense any more. I don't think most D's are afraid of Willie running them over.....lol And Davenport is a bigger back but I haven't seen a lot of power out of him IMO. We've added speed to the offense but have lost the power.

I agree with you but I don't see it happening with the offense. The D, yes. We just don't have a power game on offense any more. I don't think most D's are afraid of Willie running them over.....lol And Davenport is a bigger back but I haven't seen a lot of power out of him IMO. We've added speed to the offense but have lost the power.

I agree with you there. The D has to be mean this year and make a statement that when you play the Steelers you better play physical. On the other hand, the offense isn't going to be as physical as in the past. I have also heard the Steelers are going to go in the air a little more this year, which should only help our running game...but it's not going to be that physical run over the defenses like the Bus did, Willie is just not that type of back.

I think it can happen.

Originally Posted by Steelersfan

I agree with you but I don't see it happening with the offense. The D, yes. We just don't have a power game on offense any more. I don't think most D's are afraid of Willie running them over.....lol And Davenport is a bigger back but I haven't seen a lot of power out of him IMO. We've added speed to the offense but have lost the power.

First of all, Jeff Hartings played hurt a lot of the year and often crumbled like a deck of cards under a good bull-rush. Hard to establish O-line dominance when you are weak up the middle. That should change this year. Regardless of which guy wins the starting center job, there should at least be a little more resistence coming through the middle of our line.....that will help.

Second, Tomlin has made it quite clear that he believes that the good teams in todays NFL need 2 feature backs, not just one. Through the tons of articles that have been written since Tomlin won the job, it is my sense that he (Tomlin) also believes a bigger more stout RB would be the perfect compliment to Willie (just like most of us here at SA). I won't be shocked if the Steelers pick a big power runner in this years draft. The Cedric Humes experiment never got off the ground. IMHO.

Just a note to SteelerSteve. We won Super Bowl XL 2 years ago. The Colts won Super Bowl XLI this year. We will be trying to reach Super Bowl XLII this year.

The defense most definitely needs to get back in form, hard hitting, in your face, make them bleed, bone crushing D!!! We definitely need to get the OL playing as one line and not folding like a cheap suit. The running game, we need the big bruising back whoever it is, it don't matter. Once we get that, teams will forget about Willie and they'll also forget his speed and that he can break it from anywhere on the field. I believe Roethlisberger will come back to form, especially with a simplified playbook to work with. That right there should make him at ease and also make it easier to put last season behind us.

If you don’t stand behind our troops.....Please feel free to stand in front of them!!!

"Give me a 6 pack, half hour of rest and lets go play them again....We can beat them."
--Jack Lambert

"They say that when you're the champs, everybody will try to beat you. Well, I'm glad we're the champs, so bring 'em on, bring 'em all on. If we die, we ain't gonna die running. It's gonna be a fight."
--Joe Greene

The defense most definitely needs to get back in form, hard hitting, in your face, make them bleed, bone crushing D!!!

With a healthy, rejuvenated Palomalu, a hungry Anthony Smith, a nasty James Harrison, and maybe a youthful Anthony Spencer. Our D can get back to making people dread playing the black and gold because of the black and blue they feel afterwards.

With a healthy, rejuvenated Palomalu, a hungry Anthony Smith, a nasty James Harrison, and maybe a youthful Anthony Spencer. Our D can get back to making people dread playing the black and gold because of the black and blue they feel afterwards.

Oh yeah, makes my mouth water with the thought of getting back to that!!!

If you don’t stand behind our troops.....Please feel free to stand in front of them!!!

"Give me a 6 pack, half hour of rest and lets go play them again....We can beat them."
--Jack Lambert

"They say that when you're the champs, everybody will try to beat you. Well, I'm glad we're the champs, so bring 'em on, bring 'em all on. If we die, we ain't gonna die running. It's gonna be a fight."
--Joe Greene

Ok so what if the Steelers don't have power running game like they did with the Bus anymore. They also have a RB now that can score anytime he touches the ball and will allow this offense to be very explosive if the Ben and the passing game take their games to the next level. Now don't get me wrong pounding the ball down the throat of a team is great especially when protecting a lead.

But looking at the defense right I don't see the Steelers defense being as good as it has been the last few years unless they find some pass rushers in the draft. Now maybe James Harrison will go on to have 12 sacks this year and become that dominant OLB the Steelers need for their 3-4 defense but right now I'm not counting on that. I like Harrison but he has never started a whole season. So that is a question mark. As for Clark Haggans he is ok but a upgrade is needed in my mind. I like the defensive line and the secondary. I truely don't think the secondary is as bad as some think. With a better more consistent pass rush will do wonders for the secondary.

So my point is with the defense lacking some serious pass rush in my opinion right now the offense might have to carry the team. I think the Steelers offense has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL if Ben bounces back strong and the Oline improves their play this year.